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Why choose Vancouver Island University?

Connected, personalized education

Small class sizes mean we make a personal connection with you. We get to know more than just your name. We learn who you are and where you want to go in life, and we connect you to opportunities that help you get there.

At VIU you don’t have to choose between learning for the love of it and a career goal. You get both. We focus on teaching and research, which sets us apart. It means you gain the practical skills and the in-depth knowledge to stand out in academia and in the workplace.

Vancouver Island is where the world comes to connect with nature. Our main campus in Nanaimo is minutes away from scenic trails and a few hours away from all the iconic Vancouver Island attractions. And you can enjoy the outdoors all year. 

Apply to VIU

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120+ Programs

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100, 000+ alumni

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Canada’s mildest climate

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Small class size, big opportunity

Small class sizes allow us to give you more hands-on experience and more opportunities to put your learning into action. 

“Even though VIU is a smaller university, the level of instruction is world-class. We had a ton of hands-on labs and field trips, things that just wouldn't be possible in larger institutions with big class sizes – especially through some of the Fisheries and Aquaculture courses. And I was gaining skills and experiences in my first and second years of undergrad that other students at bigger universities might not get to learn until their third or fourth years.” 

– Brian Timmer 

Read more about Brian’s Timmer's story

What we do

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Support our people

Everyone at VIU wants to see you succeed, and we offer help along every step of your educational journey and beyond
 

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Celebrate our place

We connect students with the community through, community-based research, internships,  alumni network and more. 
 

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Build on your potential

Whether you join us as an undergrad, a trades student or for adult upgrading, our job is to help you get where you want to go in life. 

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Study where you can make an impact

Second-year Earth Sciences student Tess Weaver has a passion for water. After getting to know her, a VIU professor hired Tess to work on a VIU study of tire toxins in Vancouver Island streams. The job involved field experience sampling water. Tess never imagined she’d be doing field work in second year. 

“That’s the unique thing about this university. In this project there’s a position for anyone who wants to be involved and who cares. This is a unique project where you have local community, Indigenous communities, and even us undergrads and grad students – interacting and networking. It’s a special project.”

Explore the VIU experience

Explore

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Contributing to growth on the Island and beyond

Since 1936, we’ve served Vancouver Island with programs and courses that help our community grow and prosper. VIU Trades programs prepare students to improve lives in their local communities as carpenters, mechanics, cooks and more. We help trades people earn Red Seal endorsements, ensuring that highly trained professionals serve our community.

Learn about Red Seal and apprenticeships

VIU in the news May 23, 2025

An exhibit by a former youth in care, the moment VIU broke a world record, World Oceans Day and much more. Read VIU in the news this week: Tarah Dowling…

Message from the Acting President: May 22 Update to the Community

As we head into the final weeks before convocation and the summer months, I want to share a few updates that reflect the incredible things we’re accomplishing…

VIU in the news: May 20, 2025

From breaking world records, to student hunger research, to the stories of former youth in care attending Vancouver Island University, here's what made the…

Documentary filmmaker uncovers history of Chinese-Canadian war hero

VIU’s Canadian Letters and Images Project sheds light on what happened to Fred Lee. A quest to learn more about Private Fred Lee, a Chinese-Canadian war hero…

VIU in the news: May 12, 2025

Heavy Metal Rocks is not just about playing in the dirt.  High school students had a chance to rotate through real-world machine stations during an…

VIU in the news May 23, 2025

An exhibit by a former youth in care, the moment VIU broke a world record, World Oceans Day and much more. Read VIU in the news this week: Tarah Dowling…

Message from the Acting President: May 22 Update to the Community

As we head into the final weeks before convocation and the summer months, I want to share a few updates that reflect the incredible things we’re accomplishing…

VIU in the news: May 20, 2025

From breaking world records, to student hunger research, to the stories of former youth in care attending Vancouver Island University, here's what made the…

Three coastal campuses

Nanaimo

Our main campus on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. An ocean-view campus spanning 92 acres. 

Cowichan

On the traditional territory of Cowichan Tribes, the Cowichan campus includes a main campus building and the Cowichan Trades Centre.

tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

Located in the traditional territory of the Tla’amin First Nation, tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus serves the qathet region of the Sunshine Coast.

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VIU alumni make the world a better place

Our alumni are out in the world doing amazing things. 

Misha Zvekic, one of the first students to graduate with VIU's Chemistry major is investigating the impacts of environmental contaminants like microplastics and “forever chemicals." They are working on a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Victoria. They do their research at VIU’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratories. Building on research they began as an undergrad at with us, in 2022 they were the lead author of a research paper on the effect of light on microplastics that was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry

And in 2024 they studied “forever chemicals” in a sixgill shark. Forever chemicals are persistent, man-made chemicals linked to human health issues. Micha looked at the transfer of chemicals from mother shark to offspring. Understanding this has potential to help us understand similar mechanisms in humans. 

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Where do you want to take your studies? 

Connect with a VIU recruiter to find out how we can help you reach your goals

Connect with a recruiter